“Behind Closed Doors” by João Pedro Bim exposes Brazil’s authoritarian past by juxtaposing state propaganda with recordings from a 1968 military meeting that stripped citizens of rights. The film critiques the veneer of state-promoted prosperity, highlighting the brutal reality of the dictatorship. However, while stylistically engaging, it becomes repetitive and misses opportunities to tie past tactics to current political strategies.
“Behind Closed Doors” is a powerful documentary that chronicles Brazil’s descent into authoritarianism following the issuance of Institutional Act No 5 in December 1968. This decree stripped citizens of civil rights and marked a bloody era of torture and disappearances under the military dictatorship. João Pedro Bim’s film effectively juxtaposes old state propaganda newsreels with recently uncovered tapes of high-ranking officials discussing the suppression of dissent, revealing the grim realities of dictatorial rule.
The archival newsreel footage presented in the documentary conjures a facade of national prosperity and unity, showcasing marching soldiers, new architecture, and patriotic displays. These visuals are paired with recorded discussions from the secret meeting that meticulously detail planned restrictions on democratic freedoms. This stark contrast casts the once benign images of cheerfulness into a disturbing light, highlighting the deceit behind the overtures of societal harmony.
“Behind Closed Doors” acts as an antidote to the propaganda that once served to pacify the populace, contrasting official narratives with the concealed atrocities of the regime. Bim enhances this effect by employing various stylistic techniques such as freeze frames, time-lapse photography, and jump cuts, challenging the viewer’s perception of the state’s collective image. However, these methods may become repetitive as the film progresses, diminishing the impact of subsequent revelations.
While captivating, the film misses an opportunity to explicitly draw parallels between historical authoritarian tactics and the recent actions of Jair Bolsonaro’s government. The similarities in their strategies raise important questions that could have been further explored, potentially enriching the documentary’s relevance in today’s political climate.
“Behind Closed Doors” effectively exposes Brazil’s troubling past under military rule by contrasting state propaganda with chilling revelations from governmental discussions. While the film’s stylistic choices initially enhance the narrative, their repetitive nature may lessen the overall impact. Furthermore, deeper connections to contemporary politics could have increased the documentary’s significance in light of ongoing authoritarian tendencies.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
